Something (Gold)fishy

Picture: Dominic Peters (left) and David Poole

It’s 11 in the morning but Dominic Peters and David Poole of electro band Goldfish have already been skateboarding down Chapman’s Peak at breakneck speed and doing a spot of surfing.

Hmph, and they call it work! But all the SA duo’s fun activities were being filmed for a music video of their hit track Cruising Through.

Their surfboards are still on the roof of their trusty old Valiant when we interview them for YOU.

It seems life can’t get any better. Over the past year their careers have gone from strength to strength and they’ve attracted a cult following locally and abroad. The cherry on top is a staggering eight SAMA (SA Music Awards) nominations for their second album, Perceptions of Pacha, released last year.

But they aren’t allowing themselves to get their hopes up too high. “As a band it’s normal to hope for something like this but we don’t make music for the validation but because we love it and believe in what we do. However it’s awesome getting this kind of recognition from our country,” Dom (28) says.

So how many SAMAs do they expect to walk away with?

“One would be nice, all eight would be great!” Dave (31) says with a laugh.

It has been five years since the two musicians, who met at UCT where both studied jazz, launched the band under their own record label, Goldfish Music (they’re now signed to Sony BMG).

They started playing gigs in and around Cape Town, combining jazz and dance music and giving it their own special spin.

Their 2005 debut album, Caught in the Loop, used little more than a double bass, saxophone and a couple of synths - and garnered them a loyal following and many hits.

The Fishies, as they’re known to fans, spend up to five months abroad each year and have been opening acts for international bands such as Faithless, Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx and DJ Paul van Dyk in exotic locations.

Yet as much as they enjoy travelling they remain local boys at heart. “You should see the amounts of biltong we eat as soon as we get back,” Dom says.

WIN
We’re giving away 20 copies of the Goldfish CD Perceptions of Pacha. SMS the keyword GOLDFISH followed by your name, surname and address to 34923 before 5 pm on 16 April. Each SMS costs R2.

All about AnnaSophia Robb

She’s only 15 but ANNASOPHIA ROBB has shared the big screen with Hollywood heavyweights such as Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron. In her latest role she plays an alien in Race to Witch Mountain.

LIVING THE DREAM
AnnaSophia was born on 8 December 1993 in Colorado. “I’d wanted to act since I was really little. When I was nine my parents found me an agent, sent me to acting classes and I started getting small jobs,” she says. Her first role was in a 2004 episode of the TV show Drake & Josh. But her TV career was short-lived because she caught the eye of Hollywood bigshots.

OH, JOHNNY!
In 2005 she made it to the big screen in the comedy drama Because of Winn-Dixie and the delightful Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp. “I was so nervous because everyone was making such a big deal about him. But when we spoke I realised he’s just a really sweet man, really normal and loves his kids and is always talking about them.”

HER FILMS
*Bridge to Terabithia (2007) - She became instant buddies with co-star Josh Hutcherson.
*The Reaping (2007) - Her first and only horror film so far.
*Have Dreams, Will Travel (2007) - She saves a boy from his nasty parents.
*Jumper (2008) - As the young version of Rachel Bilson’s character, Millie.
*Sleepwalking (2008) - As a kid abandoned by her mom (Charlize Theron). “Charlize is such an amazing actress. She’s just so powerful and so committed to her work and the art of filmmaking,” she says.

NOW ON CIRCUIT . . .
The comedy sci-fi movie Race to Witch Mountain centres on a taxi driver, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who picks up twins Sara (AnnaSophia) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig). But it turns out they’re aliens who are in a big rush to get to Witch Mountain to recover their ship and save the planet.

“I have awesome powers, which is super-cool. I can move objects with my mind and I can also read people’s minds,” she says.

COMING SOON . . .
AnnaSophia’s next starring role is in the drama Dear Eleanor alongside another bright young Hollywood star, Abigail Breslin. But she’s most excited about starring in the sequel to Witch Mountain. “If I got a call that we were going to start filming a sequel tomorrow, I would be there tonight.”

Hot CDs

ALBUM OF THE MONTH
WHEN THE WORLD COMES DOWN by All-American Rejects
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Kim Van Reizig
The third album of US rockers All-American Rejects could well be their best. The 12-track CD includes popular hit single Gives You Hell which peaked at No 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No 2 on US Pop 100 charts. It’s a roller-coaster ride going from pop to groovy to dark in tracks such as Fallin’ Apart and I Wanna.

The group is known to appeal to teenage audiences and the lyrics of this offering mostly relate to teen angst but the strong, funky beat will suit many tastes.

REVIEWS
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (SOUNDTRACK) by various artists
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
Bollywood goes mainstream in this Oscar-winning soundtrack from the Oscar-winning film that has had everyone talking. The up-tempo beats on AR Rahman’s score are complemented by the catchy Paper Plane by MIA who also teams up with Rahman on the opening track, O . . . Saya.

NO LINE ON THE HORIZON by U2
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Sulaiman Philip
On their latest offering U2 leave their comfort zone and end up with an album that is, well, okay. The soul-searching, strident, self-righteous lyrics are there but they’re less important than the music on the best songs. The downbeat and beautiful Cedars of Lebanon is a highlight on this zany, confused album.

CADILLAC RECORDS (SOUNDTRACK): DELUXE EDITION by various artists
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
The standard edition of this soundtrack has 13 tracks so we recommend buying the deluxe double-disc edition. The album has a mix of Motown, golden oldies and new material from Nas and Solange Knowles. Beyoncé (Etta James in the musical), Jeffrey Wright (Muddy Waters) and Mos Def (Chuck Berry) sing most of the songs.

Music news

Picture: Panic at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie

PANIC AT THE DISCO
American pop rockers Panic at the Disco (Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, Jon Walker and Spencer Smith) are heading for SA for the first time. See them on 10 April at the Coca-Cola Zero Fest at Joburg’s New Market Racecourse and on 13 April at the Cape Town Ostrich Farm. We did a Q&A with the Nine in the Afternoon hitmakers ahead of their trip.

Q: What are you looking forward to in SA?
A: We enjoy visiting new places and seeing new fans. We never thought we’d have the opportunity to visit South Africa so we’re looking forward to the shows. Without preconceived notions about what to expect we hope to have a great experience.

Q: Do you hang out when not making music?
A: We do. We take a break from one another after long tours but soon end up at our usual spots. It’s how we’ve always been.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the single Nine in the Afternoon off your latest album, Pretty. Odd?
A: With Nine in the Afternoon we were in our practice space in Las Vegas for hours, writing. The room didn’t have windows; somebody asked what time it was and I think Jon said it’s nine in the afternoon. The song essentially wrote itself from there.

Q: When can fans expect another album and will it be different from this one?
A: We’re working on music but it’s early stages yet.

Q: What’s the best thing about being famous?
A: Getting free food at places at which we’re recognised!

PANIC AT THE BOX OFFICE
Tickets to Michael Jackson’s UK tour, This Is It, sold out in less than five hours last month. A million tickets were sold at a rate of 333 a minute. The 50-year-old singer is scheduled to perform 50 shows at The O2 Arena in London, starting in July. For the thousands of fans who missed out - tickets are selling on the black market at up to £16 000 (R220 000) for two front-row seats.

Game of the week

LITTLE BIG PLANET
PlayStation 3. 2008. 7+
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Pieter Vermaak
Have you ever wanted to design a world of your own? With Little Big Planet you can. This charming game has a number of pre-built levels but the excitement is in manipulating objects to create a unique environment. Its quirky handicraft-style graphics are a wonder to behold and with the game’s editing tools you can create almost anything you can imagine. Little Big Planet is a great experience that opens up awesome new possibilities in the world of gaming.

Movie: Race to Witch Mountain

Teen drama. With Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig. Director: Andy Fickman. PG. Opens 27 March.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Leon van Nierop

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A confused taxi driver’s life is further complicated when two children suddenly appear on the back seat of his taxi - and he realises they’re aliens from outer space. Now he must rush them to their spacecraft’s launch site.

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
It’s not often one can genuinely say a film is ideal for the whole family but there’s no other way to describe this family-friendly, super-slick, exciting teen drama. It may be loaded with improbabilities but it’s a lot more fun than political speeches. And with stars who are better looking and more agile than Ryk Neethling on a good day this film will make your toes curl from pure enjoyment. It’s family fun for everyone and is being released just in time for Easter.

WAIT FOR DVD?
Nah, there are enough DVDs and videogames. Round up the dudes and get down to a cinema - it’s what Easter weekend is for. This flick roars like James Bond’s car. Dwayne Johnson is supercool and the space beings are the best playmates since Nintendo arrived on the scene. And with a fresh twist to the action every few seconds you won’t be bored for a moment. Truly ideal entertainment for everyone.

SIMILAR FILMS
The Game Plan; Freaky Friday; City of Ember.

Alexander Ludwig on our radar

There’s a cute alien in our midst - and we love him! Say hello to ALEXANDER LUDWIG (16) who plays a teen with paranormal powers in the upcoming flick Race to Witch Mountain (see movie review).

*He was born on 7 May 1992 in Vancouver, Canada.

*He’s best known for his role as Will Stanton in the 2007 fantasy film The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising. “Ever since I was a kid I wanted superpowers and in this movie I could do almost anything except fly,” he says.

*He lives with his parents and three siblings (two sisters and a brother) in Vancouver.

*He begged his parents to allow him to pursue acting. “My mom and dad were kind of iffy about the whole thing. The kid actor thing can get a bit warped.”

*His parents eventually relented and he started his acting career at nine in a Harry Potter toy commercial.

*He’s amped about his new role opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Race to Witch Mountain. “I had no idea what was going to come next. This has been such a roller-coaster ride, the opportunity of a lifetime.”